Political Quotes

“former Senator John Sharp Williams, an admirer of Thomas Jefferson, once noted that: "My reading of history convinces me that most bad government has grown out of too much government." This is exactly the problem that we are attempting to address in today's debate. When I first began working for my father's small business many years ago, the onslaught of Federal mandates on our local communities had only just begun. Later, as a Washington State legislator, I saw first hand how destructive Federal mandates could be. Today, the Federal Government has used the mandate loophole to radically expand the scope of Federal intrusion into the lives of all Americans. Our constituents have paid the price in an ever-increasing State and local tax burden, and in unnecessary restrictions on our struggling regional economies. The U.S. Constitution set up a clear delineation in powers between the State and Federal governments. The Founding Fathers wanted to make certain that the Federal Government would have limited power to infringe upon States rights, or to raid State coffers. But like an octopus, the Nation's bureaucracy has slowly but surely extended its power and influence, and in so doing has eroded many of the Constitution's fundamental provisions. Let me give you a few examples. Federal regulations are forcing one country in my home State of Washington to spend $142,000 to convert their traffic signs to the metric system.”